It’s official: 2012 was really wet – but not as wet as 2000

A man walks down a flooded road in Clifton Hampden in Oxfordshire (Picture: PA)

Officials figures have shown 2012 to be the second wettest year in the UK ever – but it wasn’t even the wettest year this century after being narrowly beaten to the overall record by a particularly damp 2000.

The Met Office have released data for the last 12 months, which shows the total rainfall across the country to be 1,330.7mm.

However, despite predictions that 2012 would be declared the wettest since records began more than a century ago, it seems we endured an even more sodden year at the beginning of the 21st century when 1,337.3mm of rain fell – a difference of just 6.6mm.

With 2012 taking its place at number two in the record books, it means four of the top five wettest years since 1910 have come in the last 12 years. After 1954 in third place (1,309.1mm) come 2008 (1,295.0mm) and 2002 (1,283.7mm).

That fact has led some to suggest it is a clear sign of the effect of global warming on the environment. However, commenting on the data Met Office chief scientist Professor Julia Slingo stopped short of drawing such a conclusion.

‘The trend towards more extreme rainfall events is one we are seeing around the world, in countries such as India and China, and now potentially here in the UK,’ Prof Slingo said. ‘Much more research is needed to understand more about the causes and potential implications.’

It is thought a particularly dry start to 2012 put paid to any chance of the year being named the wettest on record, with most of the major water companies declaring hosepipe bans at the beginning of spring.

However, this now seems farcical given how damp the rest of the year has been with widespread flooding in various areas of the British isles in certain parts of the summer, and at times in most of the autumn and winter months so far.

The Met Office data showed that England endured its wettest year ever, while Wales experienced its third wettest on record, Scotland its 17th wettest and Northern Ireland its 40th wettest.

Flooded gardens in Ironbridge, Shropshire as the river Severn burst its banks

Flooded gardens in Ironbridge, Shropshire (Picture: PA)

Flooded gardens in Ironbridge, Shropshire as the river Severn burst its banks.

Flooded gardens in Ironbridge, Shropshire as the river Severn burst its banks.

Flooded gardens in Ironbridge, Shropshire as the river Severn burst its banks.

Pumps are used to help stop water from flooding homes in York city centre, after the River Ouse burst its banks following heavy rainfall over the Christmas period.

Flood alerts remain in place in the UK (Picture: PA/File)

A man makes his way through flood water outside the Ship Inn Pub in Acaster Malbis, near York, after the River Ouse burst its banks following heavy rainfall over the Christmas period.

People make their way along a flooded road in Naburn, York, after the River Ouse burst its banks following heavy rainfall over the Christmas period.